Let's make 2024 the year of saying no to productivity culture

Why we need to learn the importance of lying fallow

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Many of us struggle with not having enough time to do basic human things like rest, spend time with friends and family, or connect with our communities. When we choose rest or relaxation over work or crossing things off our never-ending to-do list, it can feel uncomfortable, almost immoral.

It can seem like we are being “lazy.”

We did not come up with this drive to be constantly productive on our own. In fact, it’s against our nature, in a million hideous ways. It's an idea that American culture has sold us, and it's one that we have to make a conscious decision to reject if we are ever to be fully ourselves.

This is not an easy feat because we routinely receive messages that normalize and even glamorize compulsive business amidst a dearth of free time. "Busy" people who (allegedly) need little rest or sleep are cast as important, even virtuous—and if you aren't grinding it out like they are, there are productivity hacks aplenty to get you with the program.

A perfect example is a "6-Day Energy Challenge" the New York Times rolled out to kick off 2024. They promised to "share evidence-based tips and inspiration so you can feel more awake throughout the day."

You can do this, they note, by "taking microbreaks — small pauses under five minutes — throughout the day can help keep us feeling energized. Even 10 seconds of rest, one study found, can improve our ability to learn."

Yes, they said ten seconds of rest.

They said microbreaks.

When someone says they are going to "rest," most people envision a period that is not measured in seconds. Even the idea that five-minute microbreaks are restorative feels crazy-making.

Then there is the fact that the ten seconds of "rest" promises to "improve our ability to learn,” or put another way: be more productive.

The Times is not alone in selling everyday human things ("resting" and "having energy") as the path to productivity.

It's everywhere.

I shared a post I saw on Instagram a few weeks ago that purported to encourage rest but was riddled with problematic productivity culture lingo.

The post explained that experts say one “lazy day” per week is good for us:

This essentially means not doing anything that is on your to-do-list, not checking work related emails, not responding to work calls, being in your pyjamas all day, taking a nap, doing things that you really like - gardening, watching your favourite movie or show, some art and craft activity, eating good food without worrying about calories and enjoying all the simple pleasures of life. 

It used to be considered just normal behavior to not work on the weekend. Now, not checking work-related emails or responding to work calls (also known as not working on your day off) is in the same category as staying in your pajamas all day.